Reactions from Team Obama: Biden Was “Terrific,” a “Happy Warrior”

Leah Barkoukis

10/13/2012 8:07:00 AM - Leah Barkoukis

Guy posted on the negative reviews Joe Biden’s 'performance' at the debate received, but what were some of the reactions like from Team Obama?

1. Barack Obama

“I'm going to make a special point of saying that I thought Joe Biden was terrific tonight,” Obama said as he descended Air Force One, according to a media pool report. “I could not be prouder of him. I thought he made a very strong case. I really think that his passion for making sure that the economy grows for the middle class came through. So I'm very proud of him.”

2. Jim Messina

“He’s a happy warrior,” Messina told reporters in the red-carpeted spin room immediately after the debate. “That’s fine. That’s who Joe Biden is. And what people got from him was passion for the middle class. What people saw tonight was facts versus index-card talking points, and Ryan couldn’t go anywhere past index-card talking points.”

Jim Messina, the Obama campaign manager, told us in the spin room that Biden's looks were a sign of "passion, candor." -POLITICO

3. Stephanie Cutter

Deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter echoed that point, telling a swarm of reporters as she exited the spin room that “Joe Biden is 100 percent authentic, and that’s what the American people saw tonight.”

4. DWS

5. Chris Matthews

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC live coverage: "I don't think Biden has to clean up anything tonight. I think the Romney people have to look at some things tonight. ... [But] I think the Benghazi argument went to Ryan." -POLITICO

6. Jay Carney

Vice President Joe Biden's repeated laughter during Thursday's debate was a reflection of the "enormous amount of passion and joy" he brings to the job of serving the American people, White House press secretary Jay Carney said on Friday.

7. Touré

8. Bill Maher

What did you think about the debate? Was Biden 'passionate and joyful' or a "buffoon"?